88 VARIETIES OP NOOTILSS 



the orbicular stigma conspicuously black, is the most striking of all 

 the varieties, and finds no parallel in coast muralis.* 



8. A sub-var. with the ground colour grassy-green, with the 

 usual black scattered scales and markings, but the subterminal line only 

 represented by a pale shade. 



e. This sub-var. has the ground colour of a dull brownish -green, 

 and the markings etc., the same as in the preceding. 



As is the case with muralis vars., there are intermediate or modified 

 forms of most of the above. So far as I can ascertain, impar is taken 

 nowhere but at Cambridge, where it is anything but common" (in. litt., 

 29, 8, '92). Respecting this, I would only add that Mr. Farren seems 

 to have overlooked the Cork locality. 



Moma, Hb., orion, Esp. 



Vol. i., p. 11. Moma orion. This species has its name, orion, 

 changed by Sven Lam pa to alpium, Osbeck, ' Gotheb. Vet. o. Vitt. 

 Samb. Handl.', p. 52; pi. i., fig. 2, a (larv.), b. (fjaril.) 1778. This change 

 illustrates well the futility of agitating at present for a fixed specific 

 nomenclature. In the present condition of our knowledge, and whilst 

 the " order of priority " is to be maintained, the works of authors which 

 are practically unknown outside their own country, must be, and will 

 have in future to be taken into account, and this will necessitate con- 

 stant change, which will be gradually lessened as years go on, until a 

 fixed specific nomenclature can be successfully dealt with. Personally, 

 I fail to see the use of changing a well-known name like orion to 

 alpium, and should like to see a rule agreed to by the leading ento- 

 mologists of all countries, not to alter a well-known name without 

 some very special reason ; but whilst our Museum authorities and many 

 other writers on entomological subjects, fight for the hard and fast 

 lines of " priority," little can be hoped for in this direction. With 

 generic nomenclature, there can never be stability. A " stable " 

 system in genera would mean a *' stagnant " condition of entomology 

 in general ; and whilst genera show relationships and affinities, as they 

 should do, every advance and new discovery in this direction will 

 mean re-creation of new genera, and the re-arrangement of old ones. 



Vol. i., p. 12. Moma orion. Oberthiir records this species in his 

 ' Lepidopterous Fauna of the Isle of Askold,' and states that it is of " a 

 similar type but a little smaller than specimens from the West of 

 France " (* Etudes d' entomologie,' v., p. 68). 



Vol. i., p. 12. Moma orion var. runica, Haw. Haworth's original 

 description of var. runica is as follows : " Noctua alis laste perviridibus 

 lituris numerosis nigris albo adnatis, striga marginali ex punctis trigonis 

 extrorsum cuspidatis, abdomine graciliori." " Expansio alarum 1 unc. 

 5 lin. Prsecedenti similis at valde distincta. Minor, abdomine fusco 

 graciliori magisque cristato. Liturae nigrse alarum longe grossiores, 

 atque diversee, striga tantum unica in ipso margine postico, expunctis 

 magis trigonis quam sagittatis, extrorsum, nee introrsum cuspidatis. 

 Ala8 posticee fere nigrjse punctis parvis albis ad angulum ani ; ciliis 

 itidem albis ordine notarum fuscarum " (' Lepidoptera Britannica,).' 



* This corresponds to a certain extent to var. su/usa of perla (ante, Vol. i., 

 p. 8), and is, in my opinion, the form most distinct from muralis that impar 

 reaches. 



